Tom R. Smedes / AP
Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo, right, speaks before signing an election worker protection bill into law as Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar looks on at the old Assembly Chambers in Carson City, Nev., Tuesday, May 30, 2023.
Thursday, June 8, 2023 | 9:39 p.m.
Gov. Joe Lombardo on Thursday signed a bill into law to make Juneteenth a statewide holiday, making Nevada the 25th state to celebrate the day by doing so.
The day, celebrated June 19, marks the date when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, in 1865 to emancipate the last slaves following the Civil War, more than five months after the 13th Amendment was ratified. Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021.
“Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, and I’m proud that Nevada will now recognize this holiday on a state and federal level,” Lombardo said in a statement provided to the Sun.
The measure enjoyed near-unanimous support as it passed through both legislative bodies. The Assembly voted to pass the bill 40-1 on May 30, and the Senate approved the provision by a 19-2 margin. Assemblyman Ken Gray and Sens. Ira Hansen and Robin Titus — all Republicans — voted in opposition.
“Juneteenth is an opportunity to honor the past and educate future generations about the legacy of slavery and the ongoing struggle for civil rights, economic justice, and social equality,” Assemblywoman Claire Thomas, D-Las Vegas, and the bill’s primary sponsor, said in a statement. “As the first state to ratify the 15th Amendment, which gave African-Americans the right to vote, Nevada has a long and proud history of supporting civil rights. By designating Juneteenth as a state holiday, Nevada continues to honor that legacy and celebrate the progress that has been made in the fight for equality.”
